5 soldiers, 47 militants killed in Sinai clashes: Army

CAIRO (AA) - At least 47 militants and five soldiers, including an officer, were killed in an exchange of fire in Egypt's restive Sinai Peninsula, the Egyptian army said Thursday.

In a statement carried on state television, the army said it had also managed to confiscate “several rifles and improvised explosive devices” in northern and central Sinai.

It went on to assert that at least 47 militants -- along with five soldiers, including an officer -- had been killed in “clashes”.

The statement did not provide any further details, including when the deadly exchange occurred.

Since February of last year, the Egyptian army has waged extensive operations against Sinai-based militant groups accused of carrying out a spate of attacks on security forces.

According to figures released by the military, dozens of soldiers -- and hundreds of militants -- have been killed in Sinai since the operation began.

The Sinai Peninsula has remained the epicenter of a militant insurgency since 2013, when Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, was ousted and imprisoned in a military coup.